Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Soccer Team Falls, 3-0, at Buffalo
10/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo scored in the 15th minute and again in the 34th Sunday, putting the brakes on the Central Michigan soccer team to the tune of a 3-0 Mid-American Conference victory at UB Stadium.
The Chippewas, who were 4-1-1 in their previous six matches, slipped to 5-8-2 overall, 4-3-1 MAC. Buffalo is 9-5-2, 5-2-1.
CMU won at Akron, 3-0, on Friday. The Chippewas have three conference matches remaining, the first is Friday (5 p.m.) at home against Kent State.
"Buffalo had a very good day," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "Coach (Shawn) Burke and their program is really good. It was their Senior Day. They had a lot of emotion and a really good sharpness to them.
"Today we weren't quite as prepared from a coaching staff standpoint for some of the tactics that we saw. Some of it is the long weekend trip and you have to move outside your comfort zone and that presents some challenges.
"Not sure we were as sharp as we needed to be for those things today."
Buffalo, which last season won both the regular-season and tournament league championships, outshot the Chippewas, 12-6, and held a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.
CMU goalkeeper Zoie Reed (5-6-1) made two saves. The freshman saw her shutout streak end at five games.
The Chippewas have 13 points in league play and are in sixth place overall. The top eight make the MAC Tournament field, and the top four (based on points) are hosts for first-round games.
After CMU entertains Kent State on Friday, it goes to Ohio on Sunday. The Chippewas close the regular season at home on Thursday, Oct. 29, against Toledo.
"The character of this team is strong," McGahey said. "Their resiliency is good. I'm confident that we'll respond well. Today only counts as one and I think we have to keep that in perspective. Three games to go and plenty to play for."
